Evidence Inclusive Cities

Invisible Walls: The Global Housing Crisis

REFERENCES

Divided Cities: The Widening Urban Inequality

Barriers to Equality

Inclusive cities

Silenced Voices: Arbitrary Detention and Human Rights

Collateral Damage: Urban Conflict and Civilian Suffering

Criminalized Identity: LGBTQ+ Rights Under Threat

Silenced Voices: Arbitrary Detention and Human Rights

IMAGE CONTEXTThe image shows detained migrants many children held in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions at a U.S. Border Patrol facility in Clint, Texas. These facilities have been widely criticized for denying access to hygiene, food, and legal support. GLOBAL PROBLEM DESCRIPTION This reflects a broader global issue of migrant detention and human rights violations. Vulnerable groups, including women and children, are often subjected to arbitrary detention, neglect, and abuse, even in countries that have signed human rights conventions. GLOBAL DATA The United Nations (UN News, 2020) labeled the conditions at such U.S. facilities “inhumane,” while Amnesty International (2021) reports ongoing due process violations in border detention centers worldwide. These systemic failures represent a global erosion of human rights protections in both urban and transitory zones.

Moore, M. W. (2019, July 8). Migrants held in poor conditions at a Border Patrol station in Clint, Tex. [Photograph]. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2019/07/08/un-human-rights-chief-deeply-shocked-by-migrant-detention-center-conditions-texas/

IMAGE CONTEXT This powerful image of Rio de Janeiro shows a clear difference: poor neighborhoods cover the hills, while modern tall buildings stand below. It shows how many city residents live separated, with poor areas pushed aside and without access to basic services and chances for a better life. GLOBAL PROBLEM DESCRIPTION This image shows a worldwide problem of unequal living conditions in cities. Many people live in informal homes because they can’t afford or aren’t allowed in regular housing due to poverty or unfair treatment. These divisions keep people excluded, making it harder to get education, healthcare, and jobs, and stopping cities from becoming fair and sustainable for everyone. GLOBAL DATA According to UN-Habitat (2022), over 1 billion people worldwide live in informal settlements. In Brazil, the World Bank (2021) notes that the top 10% of earners control more than 40% of the national income, demonstrating the deep-rooted structural inequalities that persist in urban systems globally.

Divided Cities: The Widening Urban Inequality

The Pensive Post. (2019, February 19). From colonialism to clientelism: Urban inequality in the Latin American city [Photograph]. Medium. https://medium.com/thepensivepost/from-colonialism-to-clientelism-urban-inequality-in-the-latin-american-city-703a98472013

Collateral Damage: Urban Conflict and Civilian Suffering

IMAGE CONTEXT This image shows the impact of ongoing fighting in cities like Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes have caused over 54,000 deaths, mostly women and children (The Guardian, 2025). In May 2025, Israeli forces forced people to leave Al-Awda Hospital, the last working hospital in northern Gaza, making the situation even worse. GLOBAL PROBLEM DESCRIPTION Urban conflicts disrupt critical infrastructure, displace communities, and leave civilians without access to healthcare, shelter, or security. Hospitals, schools, and homes are frequently destroyed, making recovery and inclusion nearly impossible. GLOBAL DATA Such destruction illustrates the growing impact of modern warfare on cities worldwide. According to Foreign Policy (2024), the increasing urbanization of conflict poses grave threats to humanitarian protection and sustainable urban development.

Abu Mustafa, I. (2024, February 14). [Image accompanying "The Human Toll of Urban Warfare in Gaza"]. Foreign Policy. https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/02/14/gaza-war-israel-civilian-deaths-urban-warfare-hamas/

Barriers to Equality: Gender Disparities in Urban Economies

IMAGE CONTEXT This image shows the ongoing fight against unfair treatment of women at work, which still limits their chances for equal jobs and pay in cities worldwide. Even with progress in cities, gender barriers are still very strong. GLOBAL PROBLEM DESCRIPTION Legal and societal limitations continue to prevent women from fully participating in urban economies. Discrimination in hiring, pay gaps, lack of childcare support, and weak legal protections collectively hinder gender equality and economic inclusion. GLOBAL DATA According to the World Bank (2023), nearly 2.4 billion women of working age lack equal economic rights. The global index of gender equality rose only marginally to 77.1 in 2022, showing slow progress toward inclusive urban development.

Nile Post. (n.d.). [Image accompanying "Discussing work place discrimination"]. Retrieved from https://nilepost.co.ug/discrimination/198807/discussing-work-place-discrimination

Criminalized Identity: LGBTQ+ Rights Under Threat

IMAGE CONTEXT This image highlights the serious problems faced by LGBTQ+ people in Uganda after a new law passed in 2023. The law punishes them with long prison sentences or even the death penalty. Since then, over 850 cases of unfair arrests, evictions, and abuse have been reported (Human Rights Watch, 2024). GLOBAL PROBLEM DESCRIPTION The law has encouraged violence from both the government and others, making it even harder for LGBTQ+ people to get housing, healthcare, and jobs. The consecuences this has brought are political and religious, because the messages from them have made discrimination and fear worse. GLOBAL DATA This reflects a broader global trend of LGBTQ+ rights backsliding. According to NYSBA (2023), increasing legal persecution threatens inclusive, safe cities by marginalizing vulnerable groups and undermining fundamental human rights.

NYSBA. (2023, December 13). Perilous Prejudice: LGBTQ+ Rights in Uganda and Beyond. New York State Bar Association. Retrieved from https://nysba.org/perilous-prejudice-lgbtq-rights-in-uganda-and-beyond/

Invisible Walls: The Global Housing Crisis

IMAGE CONTEXT This picture shows Palestinian people in Gaza gathering around a truck delivering aid, showing how much they need basic supplies. Because of the blockade, repeated military actions, and political problems, people in Gaza have a hard time getting enough housing, food, water, and medical care. GLOBAL PROBLEM DESCRIPTION This situation highlights the global issue of human rights denial in conflict zones. Many are forced to leave their homes, cannot move freely, and are left out of important services. These problems increase social unfairness and make it harder to build cities where everyone is included and treated fairly. The same issues happen in places like Yemen, Syria, and parts of Sudan. GLOBAL DATA According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA, 2023), over 80% of Gaza’s population depends on humanitarian aid to survive. Worldwide, the UNHCR (2023) reports over 110 million forcibly displaced people, reflecting a global urban crisis shaped by armed conflict and exclusion.

The Guardian. (2025, May 29). Israel-Gaza-West Bank: UN warehouse; Middle East crisis – live news updates. [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/may/29/israel-gaza-west-bank-un-warehouse-middle-east-crisis-live-news-updates

References

UN News. (2019, July 8). UN rights chief 'appalled' by US border detention conditions, says holding migrant children may violate international law. United Nations. https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/07/1041991 Moore, M. W. (2019, July 8). Migrants held in poor conditions at a Border Patrol station in Clint, Tex. [Photograph]. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2019/07/08/un-human-rights-chief-deeply-shocked-by-migrant-detention-center-conditions-texas/ Human Rights Watch. (2024, March 20). Uganda: Anti-LGBT Law’s Dire Impact. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/03/20/uganda-anti-lgbt-laws-dire-impact New York State Bar Association (NYSBA). (2023, December 13). Perilous Prejudice: LGBTQ+ Rights in Uganda and Beyond. Retrieved from https://nysba.org/perilous-prejudice-lgbtq-rights-in-uganda-and-beyond/ The Guardian. (2025, May 29). Israel-Gaza-West Bank: UN warehouse, Middle East crisis live news updates. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/may/29/israel-gaza-west-bank-un-warehouse-middle-east-crisis-live-news-updates New York State Bar Association. (2023, December 13). Perilous Prejudice: LGBTQ+ Rights in Uganda and Beyond. Retrieved from https://nysba.org/perilous-prejudice-lgbtq-rights-in-uganda-and-beyond/ Foreign Policy. (2024, February 14). The Devastation of Gaza Was Inevitable. Retrieved from https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/02/14/gaza-war-israel-civilian-deaths-urban-warfare-hamas/ Nile Post. (2024, May 8). Discussing Workplace Discrimination. Retrieved from https://nilepost.co.ug/business/198807/discussing-work-place-discrimination United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). (2023). Gaza Strip: Humanitarian impact of the escalation. https://www.unocha.org